Fluid jet for providing fluid under pressure to a desired location

ABSTRACT

A fluid jet for providing fluid under pressure to a desired location is disclosed wherein the valve body includes and integral valve element retaining region. Preferably, the valve body and integral valve element retaining region are die cast as a one-piece component. More specifically, the fluid jet includes a die cast one-piece valve body having a valve element retaining region extending longitudinally within at least a portion of the valve body, at least one fluid passage extending longitudinally within at least a portion of the valve body and in fluid communication with at least a portion of the valve element retaining region, and at least one fluid-exiting aperture through the valve body in fluid communication with the at least one fluid passage.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 60/501,472 filed on Sep. 9, 2003.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to fluid jets for providingfluid under pressure to a desired location, and more particularly, to afluid jet having a valve element retaining region integrally formed withthe valve body.

BACKGROUND

The pistons of gasoline engines, diesel engines, and high performanceengines become easily overheated during operation. Pressure actuated oiljets have long been used to cool the under side of the pistons in suchreciprocating engines. Such oil jets are often mounted in a bore on theunderside of the engine block and receive oil under pressure from an oilgallery. These oil jets also incorporate a check valve to supply oil tothe oil jet when a predetermined oil pressure is achieved and alsoprevent siphoning off of needed oil pressure during low oil pressureconditions.

Oil jets spray oil into cooling channels on the underside of thepistons, cooling the piston crowns and surrounding cylinder wall byabsorbing heat (thus lowering combustion chamber temperatures). Thisoccurs while the engine is running. This practice reduces pistontemperatures, which helps the engine develop more power and assists inlubricating the piston and cylinder wall to increase durability. Theextra oil layer on the cylinder bores and reciprocating components alsominimizes noise that typically emanates from these components. Theoptimum operating temperatures also enhance the life of the criticalengine parts and reduce maintenance costs.

There are two standard types of pressure actuated oil jets used in theindustry, each comprising a two-part configuration. As shown in FIG. 1,typical pressure actuated oil jets comprise a two-piece constructioncomprising an oil jet body 10 and an oil jet valve 12. The oil jet body10 comprises a main body 14 having a valve aperture 16 at one end and abolt-receiving aperture 18 at the other end. Extending from the sides ofthe main body 14 are two nozzles 20 which are in fluid communicationwith the interior of the valve aperture 16.

The valve 12 generally comprises a tubular sleeve 22 having a threadedexterior portion 24 and a pair of oil exiting apertures 26. The sleeve22 is further connected to an oversized head 28 at one end. Therefore,in assembly of the typical two-piece oil jet assembly, the valve 12 isinserted within the valve aperture 16 until the oil exiting apertures 26of the valve 12 line up with the nozzles 20. The threaded portion 24 ofthe valve 12 threadedly engages a threaded bore in the lower portion ofthe engine block which transfers oil under pressure from the oil galleryto the valve 12.

There are generally two valve constructions used in the industry tohandle pressure actuation: a ball valve construction (shown in FIG. 1A)and a piston valve construction (shown in FIG. 1B). While bothconstructions are further described below, it should be understood thatfor simplicity, like elements are identified by like numbers.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the ball valve 30 comprises a tubular sleeve 32connected at one end to an oversized head 40. The sleeve furtherincludes a pair of oil exiting apertures 36 which communicate with thenozzles of the oil jet body when the ball valve is placed within thevalve body 10. A bore 38 extends through the head 40 and sleeve 32 as apassage for oil entering the ball valve 30. At the end opposite the head40, the bore 38 tapers to create a seat 42 which communicates with anoil entrance opening 44.

A spring 46 is held within the bore 38 and urges a ball 48 against theseat 42 to create a valve-closed position. A cap 50 is placed over thebore 38 at the head 40 to retain the spring 46 within the sleeve 32.When the oil pressure is above a predetermined value, oil under pressurepasses through the oil entrance opening 44 to overcome the spring forceand depress the ball 48 against the spring 46 thereby creating a valveopen position. The oil under pressure enters the bore 38 and exits theoil exiting openings 36 as indicated by the arrows X and Y of FIG. 2.The oil exiting apertures 36 are in fluid communication with the nozzlesin the separate body 10 which direct oil to the pistons. When the oilpressure falls below a predetermined value, the spring 46 urges the ball48 against the seat 42 to prevent a siphoning off of oil pressure andcreate a valve-closed position.

A particular disadvantage with the ball valve construction is that theball 48 is unstable and is capable of lateral movement within the bore38 as shown by arrows A and B. The unstable ball 48 begins to vacillatein response to the high-pressure oil flowing therearound. Suchvacillation agitates the oil causing aeration which decreases thecooling and lubricating effect of the oil.

As shown in FIG. 3, the second oil jet configuration comprises a pistonvalve construction. The piston valve 52 comprises a tubular sleeve 32connected at one end to an oversized head 40. The sleeve furtherincludes a pair of oil exiting apertures 36 at its lower end whichcommunicate with the nozzles of the separate oil jet body 10. A bore 38extends through the head 40 and sleeve 32 as a passage for oil enteringthe piston valve 52. At the end opposite the head 40 and below the oilexiting apertures 36, the bore 38 tapers to create a seat 42 whichcommunicates with an oil entrance opening 44.

A spring 46 is held within the bore 38 and urges a piston 54 against theseat 42 to create a valve-closed position. A cap 50 is placed over thebore 38 at the head 40 to retain the spring 46 within the sleeve 32.When the oil pressure is above a predetermined value, oil under pressurepasses through the oil entrance opening 44 to overcome the spring forceand depress the piston 54 and reveal the oil exiting apertures 36thereby creating a valve open position. The oil under pressure entersthe bore 38 and exits the oil exiting openings 36 as indicated by thearrows Y and X of FIG. 3. The oil exiting openings 36 are in fluidcommunication with the nozzles in the separate body 10 which direct oilto the pistons. When the oil pressure falls below a predetermined value,the spring 46 urges the piston 54 against the seat 42 to prevent asiphoning off of oil pressure and create a valve-closed position.

The piston valve design generally reduces the agitation and aerationbecause the piston head 54 is guided by the cylinder wall with nounstable object in the oil flow path. While the piston valve design hasadvantages over the ball valve design, both designs are generally madefrom an excessive number of parts which are expensive to manufacture anddifficult to assemble.

Therefore, there is a need in the art to create a fluid jet that iseasier to manufacture and has fewer component parts.

There is also a need in the art to create a fluid jet that is more costeffective to manufacture and less labor intensive to produce.

There is also a need in the art to provide a fluid jet that reduces theturbulence and aeration of the fluid during flow through the oil jet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fluidjet that prevents vacillation of the closure component so as to reducefluid flow turbulence and aeration.

The fluid jet of the present invention includes the functionaladvantages of the known piston valve oil jet while being easier and morecost effective to manufacture. Further, by providing an integral a valveelement retaining region which prevents the vacillation of the valveelement, numerous advantages are realized over the prior art andnumerous oil jet configurations can be achieved to reduce costs, such asusing any number of valve element retaining region shapes, flanges oredges to retain the valve element. Further, by casting the body of thefluid jet as a one-piece component, additional component and labor costsare dramatically reduced.

These and other objects and advantages are achieved by providing a fluidjet for providing fluid under pressure to a desired location wherein thevalve body includes an integral valve element retaining region.Preferably, the valve body and integral valve element retaining regionare die cast as a one-piece component. More specifically, the fluid jetof the present invention includes a die cast one-piece valve body havinga valve element retaining region extending longitudinally within atleast a portion of the valve body, at least one fluid passage extendinglongitudinally within at least a portion of the valve body and in fluidcommunication with at least a portion of the valve element retainingregion, and at least one fluid-exiting aperture through the valve bodyin fluid communication with the at least one fluid passage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Objects and advantages together with the operation of the invention maybe better understood by reference to the following detailed descriptiontaken in connection with the following illustrations, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a known oil jet valve and oil jet bodyprior to assembly.

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of a known oil jet valve of aball-type check valve.

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of a known oil jet valve of the pistonvalve type.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of FIG. 1B.

FIG. 4 is perspective view of the oil jet valve body of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the oil jet of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the oil jet of FIG. 5 without the cap soas to show details within the valve element retaining region.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a fluid jet for providing fluidunder pressure to a desired location. However, the following detaileddescription is directed to the preferred embodiment of the invention, anoil jet for use with an internal combustion engine for providing oilunder pressure to a desired location. It should be understood thatnothing in the following description of the preferred embodiment shouldlimit the scope of the invention to the preferred embodiment.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 4-6. As best shown in FIG. 5, an oil jet,generally designated as 98, according to the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention utilizes a valve body 100 having an integral valveelement retaining region 112. Enclosed within the valve elementretaining region 112 is a spring biased valve element 15 retainedtherein by a cap 120 connected to the valve body 100. A nozzle 122 isconnected to the valve body 100 so as to direct oil under pressure to adesired location.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the valve body 100 is preferably a die cast,one-piece component and most preferably manufactured from powdered metaldue to its relatively low cost and ease of use. The valve body 100 hasan integrally formed valve element retaining region 112, at least onefluid passage 114 in fluid communication with the valve elementretaining region 112, and at least one fluid-exiting aperture 102extending through the valve body 100 in fluid communication with the atleast one fluid passage 114. As shown in the drawings, the valve body100 preferably utilizes a pair of fluid passages 114 in fluidcommunication with the valve element retaining region 112 and a pair offluid-exiting apertures 102 in fluid communication with the associatedfluid passages 114.

With continued reference to FIG. 4, the valve element retaining region112 extends longitudinally within at least a portion of the valve body100 for preventing the valve element 115 from vacillating within thevalve body 100 and causing fluid aeration and cavitation during avalve-open position. In the preferred embodiment, the valve elementretaining region 112 is defined by a pair of confronting walls 110extending longitudinally within at least a portion of the valve body 100and integral therewith. The walls 110 extend inwardly within the cavity104 to define the valve element retaining region 112. Preferably, atleast a portion of the surface of the walls 110 are semi-circular inshape so as to retain the valve element ball generally between theretaining region orifice and its base. However, other wallconfigurations could be utilized to prevent the valve element 115 fromvacillating within the valve body 100.

The fluid passages 114 extend longitudinally within at least a portionof the valve body 100 and are in fluid communication with at least aportion of the valve element retaining region 112. In the preferredembodiment, the oil passages 114 are at least partially defined by thewalls 110. More specifically, the oil passages 114 are located oppositeeach other about the valve retaining region 112 and are each in fluidcommunication with the valve retaining region 112 longitudinallytherealong. However, it should be clear that numerous other positionsand configurations for the oil passages could be utilized while stillbeing within the scope of the present invention.

Fluid-exiting apertures 102 extend through the valve body 100 in fluidcommunication with the oil passages 114. Nozzles 122, described ingreater detail below, will be connected to the oil-exiting apertures 102to divert oil under pressure to the desired location. The valve body 100may also have a mounting tab 106 having an aperture 108 through which amounting bolt (not shown) could connect the oil jet 98 to the undersideof an engine block.

With reference to FIG. 5, a fluid pressure actuated valve element 115 isplaced within the valve element retaining region 112 and is moveablelongitudinally therealong between a valve-open position and avalve-closed position (FIG. 5 shows a valve closed position). Thepreferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes an inline,ball-type check valve, however, other types of valves could be used. Thevalve element 115 of the preferred embodiment is a ball 118, althoughother elements may be utilized. The ball 118 is biased into avalve-closed position by a compression spring 116 located within thevalve element retaining region 112.

A cap 120, having a fluid-entering aperture 124 therethrough, iscoaxially connected to the valve body 100 relative to valve elementretaining region 112 so as to retain the ball 118 and spring 116 withinthe valve element retaining region 112. It should be noted that whilethe cap 120 is shown in cross-section in FIG. 5, it is removed in FIG. 6for the purpose of showing additional detail.

For operation, the oil jet 98 is connected to the engine block with amounting bolt through the mounting aperture 108 in the mounting tab 106.The nozzles 122 are positioned so as to provide oil to a desiredlocation. Oil under pressure is supplied to the oil jet 98 typicallythrough an oil line (not shown) which is connected to the oil jet valvebody 100 along perimeter 130. Oil under pressure is then drawn from anoil reservoir (not shown) through an oil pump (not shown) to the capaperture 124.

With continued reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, when the oil pressure isabove a predetermined value, oil under pressure overcomes the springforce and depresses the ball 118 within the valve element retainingregion 112 to a valve-open position. With the ball 118 no longer in itsresting valve-closed position seated on the underside of the capaperture 124, oil is permitted to flow through the cap aperture 124,into the valve element retaining region 112, and around and over theball 118 and into the oil passages 114. Oil under pressure passesthrough the oil passages 114 and through the oil-exiting apertures 102to the nozzle 122. Oil under pressure is sprayed from the nozzle 122upon the desired location, e.g. the pistons.

The ball 118 is forced into a valve-open position as long as the oilpressure is maintained above the predetermined value. When the oilpressure falls below the predetermined value, the spring 116 urges theball 118 to a valve-closed position and seats the ball 118 against theunderside of the cap aperture 124 to prevent a siphoning off of oilpressure.

The valve element retaining region 112 permits the ball 118 to movelongitudinally therein between a valve-closed position and a valve-openposition while restraining the ball 118 from vacillating and causingaeration and cavitation of the oil. Therefore, the ball 118 cannotvacillate within the cavity 104 in response to the flow of oil over andaround the ball 118.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has beenillustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoingdetailed description, it is to be understood that the present inventionis not to be limited to just the preferred embodiment disclosed, butthat the invention described herein is capable of numerousrearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing fromthe scope of the claims hereafter.

1. A fluid jet for providing fluid under pressure to a desired location,said fluid jet comprising: a valve body; a valve element retainingregion extending longitudinally within at least a portion of said valvebody; at least one fluid passage extending longitudinally within atleast a portion of said valve body and in fluid communication with atleast a portion of said valve element retaining region; at least onefluid-exiting aperture through said valve body in fluid communicationwith said at least one fluid passage; and wherein said valve body is diecast as a one-piece component.
 2. The fluid jet of claim 1 furthercomprising a fluid pressure actuated valve element located within saidvalve element retaining region and moveable longitudinally therealongbetween a valve open position and a valve closed position.
 3. The fluidjet of claim 2 further comprising at least one nozzle connected to saidat least one fluid-exiting aperture so as to direct fluid under pressureto a desired location.
 4. The fluid jet of claim 3 further comprising acap having a fluid-entering aperture therethrough, said cap coaxiallyconnected to said valve body relative to said valve element retainingregion so as to retain said valve element therein.
 5. The fluid jet ofclaim 4 further comprising a spring located within said valve elementretaining region and biasing said valve element toward said cap.
 6. Thefluid jet of claim 5 wherein said valve element is spring biased againstsaid fluid-entering aperture during a valve closed position and ismovable against said spring force along said valve element retainingregion during a valve open position in response to a predetermined oilpressure.
 7. The fluid jet of claim 6 wherein said valve element is aball.
 8. The fluid jet of claim 7 wherein said valve body is die castfrom powdered metal.
 9. The fluid jet of claim 8 wherein said fluid isoil.
 10. A fluid jet for providing fluid under pressure to a desiredlocation, said fluid jet comprising: a valve body having a cavitytherein, said valve body comprising: at least one wall integral withsaid valve body and extending inwardly within said cavity so as to atleast partially define a valve element retaining region extendinglongitudinally within at least a portion of said body; at least onefluid passage extending longitudinally within at least a portion of saidvalve body and in fluid communication with at least a portion of saidvalve element retaining region; at least one fluid-exiting aperturethrough said valve body in fluid communication with said at least onefluid passage; wherein said valve body is die cast as a one-piececomponent; a fluid pressure actuated valve element located within saidvalve retaining region and moveable longitudinally therealong between avalve-open position and a valve-closed position, said at least one wallpreventing said valve element from vacillating in response to fluid flowduring said valve-open position; a cap having a fluid-entering aperturetherethrough, said cap connected to said valve body coaxially with saidvalve element retaining region so as to retain said valve elementtherein, said valve element being spring biased against said aperture ina valve-closed position; and at least one nozzle connected to said atleast one fluid-exiting aperture so as to direct fluid under pressure toa desired location.
 11. The fluid jet of claim 10 wherein said valveelement is actuated to a valve-open position along said valve elementretaining region in response to a predetermined fluid pressure acting onsaid valve element.
 12. The fluid jet of claim 11 wherein said at leastone wall includes a semi-circular wall portion partially defining saidvalve element retaining region.
 13. The fluid jet of claim 12 whereinsaid valve element is a ball.
 14. The fluid jet of claim 13 wherein saidfluid is oil.
 15. The fluid jet of claim 14 wherein said valve body isdie cast from powdered metal.
 16. An oil jet for providing oil underpressure to a desired location, said oil jet comprising: a valve bodyhaving a cavity therein and an orifice; a wall integral with said valvebody and extending inwardly within said cavity, at least a portion ofsaid wall defining a valve element retaining region extendinglongitudinally within at least a portion of said body; an oil passage atleast partially defined by said wall and extending longitudinally withinsaid valve body in fluid communication with at least a portion of saidvalve element retaining region; an oil-exiting aperture through saidvalve body in fluid communication with said oil passage; and a nozzleconnected to said oil-exiting aperture so as to direct oil underpressure to a desired location.
 17. The oil jet of claim 16 furthercomprising an oil pressure actuated valve element located within saidvalve retaining region and moveable longitudinally therealong between avalve-open position and a valve-closed position, said wall preventingsaid valve element from vacillating in response to oil flow during avalve open position.
 18. The oil jet of claim 17 further comprising aspring located within said valve element retaining region and biasingsaid valve element toward said orifice.
 19. The oil jet of claim 18further comprising a cap having an oil-entering aperture therethrough,said cap coaxially connected to said valve body relative to said orificeso as to retain said valve element therein.
 20. The oil jet of claim 19wherein said valve element is spring biased against said oil-enteringaperture during said valve-closed position and is movable against saidspring force within said valve element retaining region during saidvalve-open position in response to a predetermined oil pressure.
 21. Theoil jet of claim 20 wherein said valve element is a ball.
 22. The oiljet of claim 21 wherein said valve body is die cast as a one-piececomponent.
 23. The oil jet of claim 22 wherein said wall includes asemi-circular wall portion partially defining said valve elementretaining region.
 24. An oil jet for providing oil under pressure to adesired location, said oil jet comprising: a valve body having a cavitytherein and an orifice; first and second confronting walls integral withsaid valve body and extending inwardly within said cavity, at least aportion of each of said walls defining a valve element retaining regionextending longitudinally within at least a portion of said body; firstand second oil passages at least partially defined by said walls andextending longitudinally within said valve body in fluid communicationwith at least a portion of said valve element retaining region; firstand second oil-exiting apertures through said valve body in fluidcommunication with corresponding first and second oil passages; andfirst and second nozzles connected to said corresponding first andsecond oil-exiting apertures so as to direct oil under pressure to adesired location.
 25. The oil jet of claim 24 wherein said first andsecond walls each include a semi-circular wall portion, said confrontingsemi-circular wall portions partially defining said valve elementretaining region.